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Now that's an interesting question.

When you say that, do you mean how it is we act, or some of the activities we may participate in, like playing video games or seeing movies and such?

I guess what I'm trying to really say is, what defines whether we're acting like the world or like Jesus? The way we dress, what games we play, etc.

Now to answer your question....I really think my family and friends probably see me as a partial Jesus, but in a lot of ways of the World...

I'm answering the rhetorical question, how about that? blaugh

Hmmm again...

Thinking like I'm not perfect honestly scares me sometimes. Now, I KNOW I'm not perfect, but I can just sense the enemy trying to use that sometimes, especially when during this spiritual warfare that's been going on as of late....

But the truth is, thinking like because I'm not perfect means I'm gonna sin, especially in the ways the enemy has been using in this spiritual warfare, is the problem, not knowing that I'm not perfect.

To once again answer the rhetorical or hypothetical (or is there even a difference?) question....

*suspenceful music*

What I took away from that clip was that we are made to believe.

The forces of this world (which is often just displaced power handed over by believers) do everything in their ability to convince us other wise.
again, if we stop and take a fearless inventory of our lives and open our hearts to God --He'll show up.

He Did for KJ-52. He does for hundreds of people a day all over the world. God is always speaking. It's just that we often forget/don't think to listen.

Prayer is one thing. Listening and recieving the answer we are seeking is another. We need to commit to listening. Even if it is uncomfortable.

ESPECIALLY if it is uncomfortable. 3nodding

This is good exclaim

The problem we have as Christains is that we try and take Webster's world definition and apply it to the spirit of truth. This is a no-no.

The lie is that we cannot be perfect because of what the world has convinced us that perfect is.

But why would God ask ...or command us to do somethig he knew we could not do?

The clear answer is: he would not.

Perfect in the original text is tamiym (taw-meem'); from OT:8552; which means: entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity and truth.

When the Bible talks about the way God is perfect, it often is referring to this kind of perfection. He is the truth. He cannot lie; thus He has integrity. He is also without fault or sin. He is up right.

In the original KJV - without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole.

(Reference: Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. )

Here are examples of God's perfection as noted in the Bible in various places.

Deuteronomy 32:4
4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.
(from New International Version)


2 Samuel 22:31-33

31 "As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
33 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
(from New International Version)


However, there is another word for perfect in the bible as it refers to God and Man: Teleios (tel'-i-os); from NT:5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with NT:358 cool completeness:

This kind of PERFECTION, in so many words, just means to grow to maturity. Be mature. To know the truth.

KJV definition (greek/hebrew) - of full age

This is the 'perfect' that Jesus called us to be. This perfect is seen in the scripture in matthew that tells us to be perfect as God is perfect. It is saying be teleios, not tamiym!

Jesus knows that we cannot be tamiym on our own accord. He knows that we have a constant choice in life and the oppertunity to fail every second of the day. He is not asking us to be tamiym. He just made it so to his father's eyes. When God looks at us, all he see's is the tamiym blood of the tamiym sacrificial lamb.

No, we can't be tamiym. Jesus' blood takes care of that. BUT we can be teleious. Which means, in so many words, to overcome --learn from one's mistakes and move on towards the Kingdom in the grace and love of God. This is spiritual Maturity. Of course Jesus wants us to grow spiritually into fully operating spiritual Christians. In the same way we want the ones we love to learn how to walk, talk, go potty, feed themselves, dress themselves, learn book and life skills, get a job, live long and prosper!

Jesus wants us to grow up in him. This is the meaning of the perfect in Matt 5:48
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(from New International Version)


Matt 19:21

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
(from New International Version)


Rom 12:2
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(from New International Version)

Another version of perfect that I have found teleioo (tel-i-o'-o); which means "to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character)"

In the KJV - consecrate, finish, fulfil, make) perfect.

Examples: 2 Cor 12:8-10
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(from New International Version)

Oh my, as I was researching just now I found the perfect explaination of what I have been rambling about. I'll just let the Word of God speak for itself:

Philipians 3:7-16

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, (complete/"teleioo") but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
(from New International Version)

In verse 15 the orginial text and KJV replaces MATURE with PERFECT = COMPLETE.

I see what you mean brodah (BTW is it THURSDAY YET??? ...seems like forever ago crying )

That is what i was saying. Really. Romans 5,6,7,8 pops into mind talking about sin and our relationship with it.

I guess the bottom line of what i was saying when I was emphasising the 'perfects' is that we limit God and say that we are so incapable beyond repair because of our 'human condition'.

The truth is that God is calling us to be teleios (mature and in pursuit of completion0, not tamiym (without spot or wrinkle) That will only be achieved by the BLOOD of Jesus, which covers our imperfection --or our incapability of being tamiym. So even though we are surrounded by sin we are not, as a heard a pastor say this morning SWIMMING in it. There is a difference between swimming in sin and everyonce in a while getting your feet wet.

The thing is that we are not sinners. We don't PRACTICE sin. we can only be boxers if we practice how to box. We can only be doctors if we practice how to become a doctor. No one becomes a doctor or a boxer or an anything-er unless they practice doing the behaviors that it takes to become it. I may lose it and punch someone in the face. That incident does not make me a boxer. It just means i made a mistake and need to change my action. I can bandage up someone up real nice, kiss the boo-boo and make it all better, but it does not make me a doctor. Do you catch my analogy here?

Again, don't take my word for it, here's the word of God.

Rom 5:6-11
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
NKJV

How can we be both sinners, justified and reconciled. We have to be one or the other. 3nodding We were sinners. Not we are.

So to answer your question (maybe) Christianity is for Sinners who want to be redeemed. We are redeemed.

Thank you brodah! heart Praise Him indeed exclaim